Blind bike racer beats obstacles in path

February 6, 2013 1:25 AM

Photo: Pete Kiehart/The San Francisco Chronicle

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Bobby McMullen searches for a pair of pedals in his "office" - a room filled with bicycles and gear - on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen searches for a pair of pedals in his "office" - a room filled with bicycles and gear - on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen searches for a pair of pedals in his... Photo-4138948.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Brad Waldron checks on Bobby McMullen during a bike ride on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind McMullen when they go on bike rides. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist. less

Brad Waldron checks on Bobby McMullen during a bike ride on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind ... more

Bobby McMullen is seen through a window in his kitchen on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Bobby McMullen is seen through a window in his kitchen on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen is seen through a window in his kitchen on January... Photo-4139351.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen laughs during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen laughs during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen laughs during an interview with a journalist at his... Photo-4138947.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen locates a jacket in his "office" - a room filled with bicycles and gear - January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. Because of McMullen's condition, he has to rely on his memory to locate objects in his house. less

Bobby McMullen locates a jacket in his "office" - a room filled with bicycles and gear - January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who ... more

Brad Waldron leads Bobby McMullen along Seminary Drive on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind McMullen when they go on bike rides. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. The Bay Bridge can be seen in the distance. less

Brad Waldron leads Bobby McMullen along Seminary Drive on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind ... more

Bobby McMullen guides himself by gripping a door frame in his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Bobby McMullen guides himself by gripping a door frame in his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen guides himself by gripping a door frame in his house... Photo-4138946.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Memorabilia, including a "trail closed" sign found at a garage sale, rests on a shelf in Bobby McMullen's house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Memorabilia, including a "trail closed" sign found at a garage sale, rests on a shelf in Bobby McMullen's house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Memorabilia, including a "trail closed" sign found at a... Photo-4139360.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen works to fix his rear wheel after it slipped in his frame's dropouts on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen works to fix his rear wheel after it slipped in his frame's dropouts on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen works to fix his rear wheel after it slipped in his... Photo-4139359.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Will Waldron chats with Bobby McMullen, left, as they wait for a traffic light on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind McMullen when they go on bike rides. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Will Waldron chats with Bobby McMullen, left, as they wait for a traffic light on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Will Waldron chats with Bobby McMullen, left, as they wait for a... Photo-4139356.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Brad Waldron leads Bobby McMullen on a bike ride past McKegney Field on January 24, 2013 in Tiburon, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the blind McMullen when they go on bike rides. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Brad Waldron leads Bobby McMullen on a bike ride past McKegney Field on January 24, 2013 in Tiburon, Calif. McMullen's friends act as guides by shouting descriptions of turns and aberrations on the road to the ... more

Bobby McMullen uses a door frame to guide himself in his house after a bike ride on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen uses a door frame to guide himself in his house after a bike ride on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen uses a door frame to guide himself in his house... Photo-4139357.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his... Photo-4139352.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen feels his way down the stairs in front of his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Bobby McMullen feels his way down the stairs in front of his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen feels his way down the stairs in front of his house... Photo-4139348.56277 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bobby McMullen rides his bicycle on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Bobby McMullen rides his bicycle on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind.

Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also blind. less

Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his house on January 24, 2013 in Mill Valley, Calif. McMullen is an avid and accomplished skier, mountain biker, and road cyclist who is also ... more

Photo: Pete Kiehart, The San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby McMullen reacts during an interview with a journalist at his... Photo-4139355.56277 - StamfordAdvocate